Question

1.What is the source of energy for nearly all the life on earth?

2.Why can't humans do photosynthesis, i.e. what organelles do plants have that humans do not?

3.What are the inputs to photosynthesis and what are the outputs?

4.Which one of the molecules in question #3 has been shown to have rapidly increased in our atmosphere?

Answer 1

Hi Answer:

1. What is the source of energy for nearly all the life on earth?

Answer: The major source of energy for the all the life on earth is the sun. If the sun is not there no life can survive on this planet. For example, let’s discuss the simple food chain where primary producers are being eaten by herbivores and herbivores eaten by carnivores and followed by omnivores. If no sunlight energy herbivores will not produce because in the presence of sunlight photosynthesis took place which builds biomass as well as produces oxygen so without food herbivores will not exist second without oxygen no animal can survive hence complete food chain will collapse. Similar in the aquatic ecosystem if aquatic plants or photosynthetic organisms didn’t get the sunlight they will not produce oxygen and due to lack of oxygen no life in the aquatic environment also. Hence we can say that sunlight is the major source of energy all the life on earth.

2. Why can't humans do photosynthesis, i.e. what organelles do plants have that humans do not?

Answer: Photosynthesis is carried out in a specific organelle in the plant which is known as Chloroplast and a photosynthetic pigment called chlorophyll is required for performing photosynthesis. But in case of the human being chloroplast as well as chlorophyll both are absent, that’s why humans are unable to perform the photosynthesis.

3. What are the inputs to photosynthesis and what are the outputs?

Answer: The major input of the photosynthesis is the carbon dioxide which produces oxygen gas and energy. The energy produced by photosynthesis is being utilized by the plants for their biochemical activities whereas the gaseous by-product i.e. oxygen is used by other animals for survival.

4. Which one of the molecules in question #3 has been shown to have rapidly increased in our atmosphere?

Answer: The carbon dioxide quantity is rapidly increasing in our atmosphere due to our irresponsible activities of deforestation and industrialization the quantity of CO₂ released into the atmosphere is much higher than its absorption by plants due to less number of plants. This rise in CO₂ is the major cause of global warming.